It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
