It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
