This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
