It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
