It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.