It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
