It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
