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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.

Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.