It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
