This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
