It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
