This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
