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This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water is debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)

The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.