This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
