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It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.

Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.