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This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.

While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by 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. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.