It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.