It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
