This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
Eva de Vries is a passionate book lover and local writer from Eindhoven.
