It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
