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This is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Human Element

This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)

The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.