This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
