This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
