It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – 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, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
