This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
