This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
