It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
