This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
