It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
