This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
