This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry 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 comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
