This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv 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 original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
