This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom 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 should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
