This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
