This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
