This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
