This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog 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 this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
