It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
