It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
