This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
