This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element 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. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
