This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
