It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
