It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves 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, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
