It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
