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It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people attest to 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 played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.