It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
