This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
