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It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.

While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.