Rob Reviews "Merv"

Let’s say that either you don’t have the Hallmark Channel or want to be seen watching the Hallmark Channel for whatever reason (I promise that I am not judging here).  Let’s also say you enjoy that type of programming, but the formula makes it hard to differentiate when people ask if you have seen one of those films.

Allow me to give you a solution there: Merv.

On Prime Video, this romantic comedy works to separate itself from that field while still keeping some of the core values that will attract that audience.  Here, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) are co-parenting the title dog after a breakup that has left them both in a position where they are not sure what is next.  Merv himself is also feeling this anxiety, and when their vet tells them that their separation has been the trigger, Russ decides to take Merv on a beach vacation in Florida to make new friends for them both during the holidays.  Anna’s overprotective nature takes over, and she ends up joining them for the week as Merv works his magic to remind them of how much they truly love each other.  This, however, also has its complications that they must work through.

I cannot say that I am not the target audience for this film, but I also don’t think screenwriters Diane Clark and Linsey Stewart had me in mind here either.  This is definitely a romantic comedy that is aimed (kind of) on the holiday season; that is to say that this is not necessarily a film that can’t be watched the other eleven months of the year, but I could also understand this being in a Christmas rotation for some.  While there is a level of predictability here, the journey itself is nice enough that it kept me interested throughout.

Deschanel and Cox don’t have perfect chemistry here, but it works on its own level.  There is also some great work by a supporting cast that includes Patricia Heaton, SNL alum Chris Redd, and semi-regular on The Rookie Jasmine Matthews that stays in its pocket and feeds the main plot just well enough to balance their own stories so as to actually care about everyone involved.

And then, there’s Gus as Merv himself.  He is nothing short of adorable (you even get to meet him before you meet ANYONE else, and I’ll leave it at that).  He truly made me want to hurry up and get home to snuggle with my furballs to make sure they too were as happy as Merv was when he was with his mommy and daddy.  He is just as important as they are here (hence the title of the film), and he absolutely captured my heart.

For those that do not have pets, Merv is one of those films that does a great job in conveying what that relationship is like.  For those of us that do, it reinforces why it is important for us to remember that they are truly a member of our family and should do everything in our power to make sure they know it to.  Check this out as a date night, even if it is in the living room on Prime Video!