It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
