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It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.

While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.

Standard Holiday Fare

To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.

The Human Element

Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)

The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.

• Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.