🔗 Share this article

This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on 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 pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Human Element

The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.