🔗 Share this article

This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.

While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.