It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
