It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk 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 belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
