This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
