It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
