It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
