🔗 Share this article

This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.

While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action 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 does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)

The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

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