🔗 Share this article

This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.