It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
