It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
