This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
