It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
