It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
