This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
