Merv Review – A Four-Legged Actor Commands the Show in Amazon’s Formulaic Christmas Romcom

This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)

The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.