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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.