🔗 Share this article

This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Human Element

The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.