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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations impede former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.

While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind 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 the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

Where It Wobbles

The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)

Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.