This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal 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 acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
