It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
