It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
