This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
