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It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.

While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played 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, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.

Where the Film Shines

How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, 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 becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.