This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
