It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
