This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
