It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
