It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
