This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
