It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including 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 Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
