It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
