This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
