This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
