It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
