It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
