In a bid to capitalize on the holiday season, Amazon has released "Merv", a Christmas romcom that follows two exes, Russ and Anne, who take their dog, Merv, to a dog resort in search of closure. The film, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart, and directed by Jessica Swale, is an unapologetically lighthearted affair that prioritizes cuteness over complexity.
The central plot device – co-parenting a dog – might initially seem like a rich source of conflict and drama. However, "Merv" opts for the most straightforward approach possible, eschewing depth in favor of sentimental appeal. The result is a movie that feels more like an Instagram Reel than a fully fleshed-out narrative.
Charlie Cox shines as Russ, bringing a winning self-deprecation to his character, while Zooey Deschanel fares less well as Anne, whose dry wit and aloofness feel slightly at odds with the tone of the film. Gus the Dog, on the other hand, is an undeniable scene-stealer, using his adorable puppy eyes to bring some much-needed warmth to the proceedings.
One can't help but be charmed by "Merv's" intentions – it genuinely wants to make you smile and root for its unlikely protagonists. However, the film's reliance on convenience and contrivance means that it never quite achieves anything more substantial. The supporting cast feels somewhat one-dimensional, while the plot twists are predictable and lacking in tension.
Ultimately, "Merv" delivers on its promise of dog-centric fun, albeit at the expense of nuance and emotional resonance. If you're looking for a lighthearted holiday treat that won't tax your brain too much, this might be the film for you. But for something with more substance, it's likely to feel like a missed opportunity.
"Merv" is now available on Amazon Prime, just in time for the holiday season.
The central plot device – co-parenting a dog – might initially seem like a rich source of conflict and drama. However, "Merv" opts for the most straightforward approach possible, eschewing depth in favor of sentimental appeal. The result is a movie that feels more like an Instagram Reel than a fully fleshed-out narrative.
Charlie Cox shines as Russ, bringing a winning self-deprecation to his character, while Zooey Deschanel fares less well as Anne, whose dry wit and aloofness feel slightly at odds with the tone of the film. Gus the Dog, on the other hand, is an undeniable scene-stealer, using his adorable puppy eyes to bring some much-needed warmth to the proceedings.
One can't help but be charmed by "Merv's" intentions – it genuinely wants to make you smile and root for its unlikely protagonists. However, the film's reliance on convenience and contrivance means that it never quite achieves anything more substantial. The supporting cast feels somewhat one-dimensional, while the plot twists are predictable and lacking in tension.
Ultimately, "Merv" delivers on its promise of dog-centric fun, albeit at the expense of nuance and emotional resonance. If you're looking for a lighthearted holiday treat that won't tax your brain too much, this might be the film for you. But for something with more substance, it's likely to feel like a missed opportunity.
"Merv" is now available on Amazon Prime, just in time for the holiday season.
. Like, you can tell the writers were like "let's put some cute dog moments in here and people will love it" 
. And honestly, Charlie Cox is great as Russ, but Zooey Deschanel just doesn't feel right for the role 
. The whole thing feels like a fun little romcom, but it's not really trying to say anything deep or meaningful. It's like they took all the complexity of a relationship and just... left it out 
. Still, if you're looking for something lighthearted to watch during the holidays, I guess "Merv" might do the trick 
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. It sounds like Amazon is trying to be too cute and shallow? The plot device of co-parenting a dog could've been so much more interesting than just using it as an excuse for sentimental feel-good moments. And what's up with the predictable plot twists? I need some substance in my holiday movies 
. Gus the Dog is adorable, though - that face alone could've carried an entire film 
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but in a good way? Charlie Cox is hilarious as always 
and Gus the Dog is just pure adorable 
. But honestly, the plot is super predictable and there's no real conflict or drama...it's like they took all the cliches from romcoms and mashed them together into one sappy film 
. Still, if you want a lighthearted holiday watch with Gus on screen, I'd say go for it 
!
) and that dog gus is like the real star of the show 
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. Just don't expect it to be anything more than that - if you need substance or complexity, keep looking 
️ I'm intrigued by "Merv"'s approach to storytelling - prioritizing cuteness over complexity is definitely a risk that pays off in terms of entertainment value, but also leaves me wondering what could've been if they'd delved deeper into character development and plot twists. Charlie Cox shines as the charismatic Russ, but Zooey Deschanel's dry wit feels slightly out of place in this context 
. It's like an extra-long episode of Grey’s Anatomy, but without the drama 
!
. The dog resort plot device was kinda cute, but it felt so...convenient. Like, how did they just magically figure out what to do with Merv? 
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he brings so much self-deprecation to his character and makes me laugh out loud every time. zooey deschanel's annie is a bit more of a letdown imo, her dry wit just doesnt vibe with the rest of the movie. but honestly who cares lol its all about gus the dog 
but its just so lighthearted and fun u can just relax and enjoy it 
. I get that it's a Christmas romcom and it's meant to be lighthearted, but still, I wanted more depth or at least some real conflict. It felt like they just phoned it in 
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because I think "Merv" is okay, but not amazing 
about their characters... anyway 
, the movie has some cute moments 
instead of a full-fledged movie 
! If you wanna feel all warm 'n fuzzy inside 
, then "Merv" is def the film for u