This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
