It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
