It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
