Film Analysis of Merv – A Four-Legged Actor Steals the Spotlight in Amazon’s Formulaic Christmas Romcom

It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)

The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.