It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
