It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
