It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
