This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
