This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
