It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
