It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
