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This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.

Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively is a questionable prospect.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.

The Two-Legged Cast

The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)

The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.

• Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.