This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
