This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
