It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (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. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
