It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers 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 either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
