This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
