It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
