🔗 Share this article

This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.