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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.

Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot 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 matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Prime Video this December.