This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
