This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
