This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
