This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
