It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
