This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as 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 – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
