It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
