This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
