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It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.

Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)

The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.