It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
