It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to 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. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
