It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
