This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
