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This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.

While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.