It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
