It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
