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This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

Where the Film Shines

If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.