It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
