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It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.

Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.

The Canine Charisma

If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.

• Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.