This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
