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This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.

While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.

Where the Film Shines

Whether these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.