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It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.

Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Dog's Domain

If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)

The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.