This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
