This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
