It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
