This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of 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 unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
