This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
