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It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.

Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Human Element

The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.