It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
