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

It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.

Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.