This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
