It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
