It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need 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 Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
