It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight 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 cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
