It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
