This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
