It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
