This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
