It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
