This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
