It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, 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, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
