🔗 Share this article

It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.

Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.