This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
