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

It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.