It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting 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 rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
