It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
