🔗 Share this article

It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.