🔗 Share this article

This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.

While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.