It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, 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 find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
