This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
