This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together 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 – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
