This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
