It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
