It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
