This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, 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 remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
