It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
