It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
