It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
