🔗 Share this article

It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.

Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.