This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
