This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed 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. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
