This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
