It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
