It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
