It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
