A recently separated couple takes their shared dog on a holiday trip to cheer him up, but end up reconnecting romantically.
Zooey Deschanel as Anna Finch and Charlie Cox as Russ Owens star in “Merv,” a somewhat lethargic romantic comedy that struggles and ultimately fails to find its spark. The two leads play a recently separated couple who co-own and co-parent a cute terrier mix named Merv (Gus in real life). Not surprisingly, much of the fun – or lack thereof – depends on the furry critter. He tries gamely and periodically succeeds, but eventually falls short of the mark, along with the rest of the cast.
Much of the movie’s anticipation comes from the well-received “Summerland,” the directorial debut of Jessica Swale, who also penned the screenplay. In this outing, she relies on writers Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart, a husband-wife team with previous credits viewers may or may not recognize. Their narrative meanders as the relationship among Anna, Russ, and Merv unwinds, somewhat cryptically and surprisingly uneventfully, during a snowy Boston winter.
Merv is clearly down – a depressed dog who apparently thrived on the synergy between his owners when they lived together. Now, residing apart, Anna and Russ share custody a week at a time, and poor Merv looks depressed in both locations. Russ works as a well-dressed elementary school teacher who maintains a good rapport with his young students. As an optometrist, Anna treats her customers’ vision problems, who sometimes offer her advice in return. Perhaps an ironic metaphor lurks in her occupational choice: while she helps others see, she is blind to the real chemistry between herself and Russ, since she is the one who initiated the break-up.
After a visit to the veterinarian, Merv is officially diagnosed with depression, and the idea of pooch-Xanax is floated as a potential solution, not well-received by either Anna or Russ. In an attempt to shake things up, Russ decides to use his week to spirit Merv down to Florida at a canine-owner resort located on the beach and chock full of doggie-centric amusements. The change of scenery works well enough for Russ, but Merv remains unimpressed. Unexpectedly, Anna appears out of nowhere, causing some consternation for Russ but delighting Merv. What seems a probable, even obvious setting for Anna and Russ to come to their collective senses instead veers back on the same path of failure to reconcile.
While in Florida, Russ takes the opportunity to visit his retired parents down the road and convinces a reluctant Anna to come along. Patricia Heaton from “Everybody Loves Raymond” fame plays Russ’s mom, who ostensibly can’t stand Anna, though the facade turns out to be mainly for show.
Russ and Anna return to Boston and go their separate ways once more. In a surprise move, Russ gives up joint custody of Merv in a selfless gesture. Russ even returns to the shelter where Merv was adopted and picks out another companion – a bug-eyed toy bulldog, adorable in her own right.
Audiences may be liable to keep hoping that one or all of the leading cast members – whether Deschanel, Cox, or the title character – will step up and carry the proceedings somewhere new or refreshing, but everything feels like familiar territory done better in so many other features in the genre. For lovers of rom-coms, “Merv” will fill the bill and pass the time agreeably enough, but unfortunately, not a whole lot else.
Streaming Exclusively on Prime Video Wednesday, December 10th
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