This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge 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 seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
