It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
