It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
