This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
