It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as 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 visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
