This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
