This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
