It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
