It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
