It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
