It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
