It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
