It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
