It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
