This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
