This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
