This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
