🔗 Share this article

This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.

While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.