This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, 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 Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
