It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions 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 rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
