It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
