It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (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 an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
