It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
