This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
