It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
