It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself 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 provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
