This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on 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 – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
