This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
