It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
