This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
