This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
