This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
