This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
