It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
