This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.