It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
