This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses 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 therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
