This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth 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 human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
