Merv Review – A Canine Star Commands the Show in Amazon’s Formulaic Christmas Romcom

This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.