This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
