This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
