This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
