This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
