This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora 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 people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
