It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
