Merv Review – A Four-Legged Actor Dominates the Show in Amazon’s By-the-Book Christmas Romcom

This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.

While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

How these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.