This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
