This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
