It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
