This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
