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It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.

While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)

The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.