This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
