It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
