It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
