It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
