This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people 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 awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
