It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
