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This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.

Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw 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, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)

Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.