This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
