This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. 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 delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
