This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
