It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
