This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
