It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
