This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
