This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
