It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
