It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
