It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
