It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
