It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
