It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
