This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth 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 film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
