This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
