It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing 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
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
