It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
