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It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.

Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

If these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Two-Legged Cast

This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)

Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.