This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
