This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
