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This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.

Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.

A Familiar Formula

To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward 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 branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.

Where the Film Shines

If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.