It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
