🔗 Share this article

It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.

While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)

Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.