It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. 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 gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
