It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
