This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
