This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
