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This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.