It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
