This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
