It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of 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 dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
