It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
