This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
