It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
