🔗 Share this article

It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.