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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.

While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)

The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.