It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
