This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, broad humor, 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 unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
