This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
