It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
