This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. 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 dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
