This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
