It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
