This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
