It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
