It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
