It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients 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 seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
