This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
