It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
