It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
