Merv Review – A Canine Star Dominates the Show in Amazon’s By-the-Book Christmas Romcom

It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.

Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.