This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
