It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
