This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
