This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
