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It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.

Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)

The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.