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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.

Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.

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