It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
