It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
