It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. 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 canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
