This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
