It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
