This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
