This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
