It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes 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 easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
