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It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.

Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.

The Canine Charisma

Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.

The Human Element

The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)

The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.

• Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.