This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
