This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
