It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
