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This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.

While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.