This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
