Merv Review – A Four-Legged Actor Steals the Spotlight in Amazon’s By-the-Book Christmas Romcom

It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.

Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.