It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
