It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
