It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
