It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (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.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
