It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
