It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
