It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
