It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
