This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – 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 visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
