It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
