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This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.

Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides 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 either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.