This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
