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This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.

While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain 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 adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Human Element

This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.