This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
