It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
