This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named 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
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
