This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
