This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
