This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. 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, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
