This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy 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, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
