It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
