This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
