It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
