This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
