It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
