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It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.

While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.

Where the Film Shines

How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Prime Video this December.