It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
