It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
