It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
