This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
