It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
