It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
