It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
