It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, 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 relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
