This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.