It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
