This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
