It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
