It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
