It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
