It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
