It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
