It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
