This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
