It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
