This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
