It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
