This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as 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 – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
