It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
