This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
