It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
