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It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.

Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, 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 vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)

The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.