It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
