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This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.

While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.