It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
