It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers 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 comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
