This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
