This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
