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This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.

Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.

The Dog's Domain

How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.

• Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.