This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
