It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
