It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
