It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
