🔗 Share this article

It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)

The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.