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It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.

Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)

Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.