It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
