This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
