This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
