It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper 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: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
