This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
