It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
