This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (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 canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
