This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
