It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
