It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
