It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
