This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
