It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
