This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
