This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm 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. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
