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It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

If these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Human Element

The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)

Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

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