It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
