This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
