This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
