It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica 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. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
