This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
