This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
