It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
