This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
