🔗 Share this article

It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.