Merv Parent Guide

Few things in this world are as affecting as sad doggy eyes. And as Merv lies on the vet’s exam table, his soulful eyes are ratcheting up his owners’ anxiety levels.

Russ and Anna (Charlie Cox and Zooey Deschanel) are already sad and heartsick. The couple broke up six months ago and have been sharing custody of their shaggy mutt ever since. When Russ isn’t teaching his fourth-grade students or brooding in his dingy apartment, he’s looking after Merv. And when Anna isn’t conducting eye exams for her patients or obsessing over super foods, she’s hugging Merv. When the vet informs them that Merv is suffering from depression as a result of their breakup, Russ and Anna sink into another round of self-doubt and recrimination.

In a desperate attempt to help Merv, Russ goes AWOL from school and heads to Florida. His destination? A resort designed specifically for dogs. Even in pooch paradise, Merv is slow to warm up – until Anna makes an impulsive decision to join them. For the good of the dog. But as they are thrown back together, Anna and Russ remember what drew them towards each other in the first place – and what pulled them apart.

I have two big complaints about this movie. First, it’s predictable. This is not unexpected; after all, the romcom genre is designed to deliver sweet sentimentality and sparkling chemistry, not nail-biting tension or plot twists. Second, there’s not enough Merv. To be fair, we get plenty of doggy moments in the film’s first act, but his screen time drops precipitously as the film progresses, and that’s clearly a mistake. Although Zooey Deschanel does a fine job projecting the intensity of her tightly wound character and Charlie Cox gives us a charmingly vulnerable Russ, the real star of the movie is Merv. It’s his melting eyes that own the screen, and, frankly, there should be more Merv (and shots from his Mervinator Insta page) and fewer predictable romantic montages.

If you’re a fan of romantic comedies, my complaints won’t bother you. This film does its job, wrapping warm fuzzy emotions in tinsel and lights. It’s also surprisingly clean, coming in at a PG rating with minimal sexual content, very little profanity, and some social drinking and brief intoxication. Compared to most romcoms this year, Merv is a pleasant surprise. It isn’t outstanding cinema by any means, but fans will enjoy it as a sweet, seasonal doggy treat.

About author

Kirsten Hawkes

Kirsten Hawkes has a BA in Political Science and English and has worked in international development and medical education and marketing. Kirsten enjoys reading, watching movies, and debating politics with her husband and sometimes unwilling children.