This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
