This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
