This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
