This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
