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This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits 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, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.

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