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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.

Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series 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 walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.