This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
