It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against 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 add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
