It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
