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This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.

Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.