This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
