It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
