This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing 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 vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
