This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
