This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains 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, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
