It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
