It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
