It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
