This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
