It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
