It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
