It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
