It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
