It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
