It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
