🔗 Share this article

This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.

While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring 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 visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.