It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
