This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
