It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
