It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
