It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
