Merv Review – A Four-Legged Actor Commands the Show in the Streaming Giant’s By-the-Book Christmas Romcom
It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
