This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
