This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
