It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
