This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
