It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
