This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
