This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
