Merv Review – A Canine Star Steals the Show in Amazon’s Formulaic Holiday Romance

It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Human Element

This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.