It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
