It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, 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 struggle adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
