It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.