It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
