This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
