It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.