This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
