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It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.

While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)

Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.