It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
