It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
