It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
