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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering 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 (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm 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. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)

The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.