This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
