It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
