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It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.