It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (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 a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
