It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
