This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
