This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
