This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
