It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
