It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers 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 absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
