It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
