This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
