It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
