This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
