It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica 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 plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
