It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
