It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
