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It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.

Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.

Predictable Foundations

Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.

The Dog's Domain

How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.

The Human Element

The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)

The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.