It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
