It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
