This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
