It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
