It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
