This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
