This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
