It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
