It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides 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 the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
