It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
