It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
