It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora 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 human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
