This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the cutest element 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 more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
