It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
