This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
