It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
