It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
