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It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.

While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water is a questionable prospect.

A Familiar Formula

Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.