This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends 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, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
