It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
