It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
