It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
