It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look 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 find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
