This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
