This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, 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. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
