This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
