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This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)

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 title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

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