This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
