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It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)

Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv streams on Prime Video this December.