This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
