This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
