This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
