It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example 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 played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be 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 canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
