This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
