This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
