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This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.