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This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.

Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

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