This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
