This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
