It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
