It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
