It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
