This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
