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This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.

While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Human Element

This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)

The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.

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