This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.